Square Enix Discusses Middleware Benefits and Challenges

Developer looks back frankly on Last Remnant, discusses challenges of using middleware engines for their games.

It's no secret that Square Enix's Last Remnant suffered major technical problems. It was the developer's first Xbox 360 game, and the first time they attempted to use the Unreal Engine. The results weren't always pretty, as Square Enix chief technology officer Julien Merceron readily admitted in an interview with Gamasutra.

"One of the traps with middleware is that some game teams believe that, because they got this middleware, maybe they need less programmers on their team, or maybe they don't need that many skilled programmers."

"And it's true -- how many talented physics programmers are there out there? I don't think that you could find three to four extremely talented physics programmers per team. For example, let's say you have like 30 game development teams; if you're looking to find two or three extremely talented physics programmers for each of your teams, that's going to be extremely difficult."

Merceron noted that one obstacle when it comes to utilizing middleware is that problems occasionally come up that no one is equipped to solve. However, he added that, "I think also it is important to highlight that there will be a time I think it won't be possible anymore to work without middleware because of time, talent, and cost reasons. So, as a conclusion, I think a balanced approach is needed."

Will more Square Enix games be utilizing middleware in the future? With the extraordinary time and expense that went into Final Fantasy XIII, it wouldn't be surprising to see them try some alternative approaches to development. We'll see what happens once its finally on the market on March 9.

Comments (11)

Last Remnant Was Unreal

Performance wise, The Last Remnant isn't so bad when installed to HD. Sure it has rough edges but it isn't enough to break the game in my opinion. Of course when it first came out there was no HD install if I remember correctly so its reputation was ruined beyond repair. But with HD installation performance is tolerable. Still no excuse for it considering it's SquareENix and not some small development house.

It's just the game itself - again, not a terrible game but nothing truly great either.

Combine both aspects: mediocre game (albeit with some interesting battle mechanics) with uneven performance and you're not going to produce a winner.

I'd still recommend it to hard core JRPG fans with enough HD space but Lost Odyssey is a much better experience.

Your all fags! :)

Your all fags. Compared to most game cpmanies SE is still on top. The quality is SE's games compared to most others is still very obvious. So go cry about it to someone who cares. You guys just don't like the fact the games have changed it up. Thats your problem. Deal with it.

What happened to them....?

...They (Square) lost their mojo.....long ago. Last Remnant was a mess. Their Name and titles don't carry the same weight they once did...imho. At least i'll give Square-enix credit for keeping this garbage away from the PS3.

What happened to them?

Square has fallen off the map to me, I haven't played a good square game in years. Maybe its because im an adult now but I think its just a major difference in culture. We like realistic, battle hardened hero's, they like gender-confused kids who have daddy issues. I bought Last Remnant day one and stopped playing it because it was so bad, not because of the battle system issues but because there was NO story at all! Square just doesn't have the magic anymore. They have the luxury of a franchise that can practically sell itself off of name alone and they piss it away. They should take a hard long look at games like Mass Effect,Fallout and Assassins Creed. Maybe they will get their head out of their asses and stop seeing games as an opportunity to show off purple armored boots on a hero who only has belts and zippers protecting him.

Could have loved it...

Thats no excuse for putting out something unfinished to the public. They should have brought in the right people or spent more time learning it. putting out an unfinished project just makes you looks messy and unproffesional.

Last Remnant

I love The Last Remnant. It would be nice if there was a graphics patch. Developers should not release titles until the graphics are perfectly smooth & clean. It can really take away from an otherwise phenomenal title...

Middleware not necessarily needed

As we all know, a middlewares quality is only as good the developers themselves. And developers who make there own custom engines need only make a new engine every 4-5 years or so, and incrementally upgrade it until they get to a point of a full rewrite. So initially, a new, more powerfull engine may take a long while to make, but after the 1st game to use it is done, the sequels become alot easier & quicker to produce, as most of the main R&D is done. Rockstar is the perfect example with GTA3. Compare the difference between GTA3 and San Andreas. GTA3 seemed primitive compared to San Andreas', even though its the same engine exstensily upgraded.

I wonder...

If there's a way to get SE to discuss why they completely abandoned the PS3 version of LR.? Gotta love when a company announces a multiplatform game, then doesn't have a word on the subject of the game not coming out for one of the systems it was announced for. At least they have FF to fall back on while they douche their way around the gaming populace. I think FFXIII and XIV may be my last romps through SE territory. Between the shoddy handling of LR and the complete crapass decision to make Front Mission a shooter, my faith is gone in these idiots.